Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia in a handshake with the Asantehene
Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia in a handshake with the Asantehene

More mourners pay last respects to Asantehemaa

Various forms of traditional drumming, music and dancing continued to characterise the burial rites of the late Asantehemaa, Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem II at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi yesterday.

It was the third and final day of the lying-in-state of the late queen mother, who would be buried today  at the Breman Mausoleum (Ban mu) after a two-hour church service by the Anglican Church in the morning.

Yesterday’s  burial rites witnessed a number of dignitaries, including the Vice-President,  Alhaji Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, the Speaker of Parliament, Prof. Aaron Mike Ocquaye and the former President, Mr John Dramani Mahama who were at the palace to pay their last respects to the queen mother who was going to the “village.”

Veep

When it was announced that  Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and his wife, Samira had  arrived at the grounds at 3:30p.m., the crowd surged forward and wanted to catch a glimpse of them.

The Vice-President and his wife filed past the remains of the Asantehemaa before taking their seats on the dais. They later went to pay homage to the Asantehene who was sitting in state.

Displays

Various ethnic groups from all parts of Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire and Nigeria hit the ground with attractive performances.

Apart from the Ashanti brand of traditional displays, there were different forms of traditional displays from the Gonjas, Ewes and Yoruba community in Ghana.

Spiritualists from the Zagbetor shrine in Aflao in the Volta region put up displays that mesmerised mourners. Many people were attracted to their stand because there was the belief that there were spirits controlling the mascots that were on display and that they could turn stones into yam.

Chiefs

Among the traditional rulers at Manhyia on Wednesday were the President of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs, Nana Soglo Alloh IV, the Krachiwura, Nana Prah Besemuna III, Togbe Gbogbolutu III from the Vakpo Traditional Area and Togbe Amenya Fi fi IV from the Aflao Traditional Area.

The Abudu Royal Family from Yendi, Nana Fosu Gyeabour Akoto from the Bechem Traditional Area, Nana Appiah Dwaa from Hwediem were also at the palace to mourn with Asanteman.

Also at the palace were the Kongwura, Jinkurira from the Gonja Traditional Area, the Techiman Paramount Chief, Oseadeeyo Agyemang Akumfi Ameyaw IV and the Yoruba Community in Ghana, led by Alhaji Musah Baba.

Each of the groups brought along a number of traditional dancers whose displays were an attraction to mourners who had filled the grounds.

Their warriors also carried different types of guns to show their might and occasionally fired muskets that sent people running to take cover.

Mahama

Former President  Mahama was also at the palace to pay his last respects. He arrived at 12:50p.m. together with the former Chief of Staff, Mr Julius Debrah, the General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketia, Nii Lante Vanderpuije, Mrs Betty Mould Iddrisu, Dr Oteng Adjei and Dr Kwame Ampofo.

After filing past the remains of the queenmother as a way of paying their last respects, they sat on the dais, waited for the Asantehene to sit in state and thereafter went to greet him.

After about an hour and half on the grounds, former President Mahama and the NDC delegation left . This was before the Vice-President and his entourage arrived.

 Former President Mahama consoling the Asantehene

Parliament

Also at the Palace was a delegation from Parliament which was led by the Speaker, Prof. Aaron Mike Oquaye. The leadership of both sides of the House, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu on the Majority and Mr Haruna Iddrisu from the Minority side were also present along with a host of other Members of Parliament including Mr Dan Botwe, MP for Okere, Alhaji Mohammed Mubaraka Muntaka for Asawasi, Ms Adwoa Sarfo, MP for Dome-Kwabenya and Mr Joe Ghartey, MP for Essikado-Ketan.

The Minister designate for National Security, Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah, former Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Patrick Kwarteng Acheampong, Mr Kwabena Kesse of Kessben Group of Companies, former Ghana Medical Association (GMA) President, Dr Kwabena Opoku Adusei, Nana Dwomoh Sarpong of Friends of Rivers and Water Bodies and a delegation from the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) were also at the palace.

Diplomatic Corps

A delegation from the diplomatic corps was also at the palace to pay their last respects. They included the United States Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Robert P. Jackson and a delegation from Hungary, Latvia, Canada, Lebanon and India.  

Asantehene

As usual, the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II came out yesterday riding in a palanquin wearing a black mourning cloth, black turban and a knife stuck in his cloth on his chest.

He chewed kola nuts to signify he was in deep mourning and occasionally sang dirges along with his entourage, danced to the tune of fontonfrom and raised a gun intermittently to display his might.

While on the procession to where he was going to sit, his warriors and executioners brandished various guns and fired muskets to display the might of the Asantehene.

Moments after taking his seat, the divisional chiefs (Abrempong) paid homage to him as custom demands. They were followed by paramount chiefs before other dignitaries took their turns to pay homage and mourn with him.

Kotoko

Players and management of the Kumasi Asante Kotoko football club were also at the palace to mourn with Asanteman. They wore red shirts over black trousers and were led by their Chief Executive, Mr Kwame Kyei.

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